First on the draw

The proliferation of TV news channels and newspapers and their public scrambles to get the first and exclusive interview has become a chronic problem for corporate communications executives. To forestall the usual first-come, first-served brawl, Piramal Healthcare executives came up with an innovative idea: the lucky draw. The names of each channel or newspaper were pooled and their turns were decided on the basis of the draw. This did help establish a semblance of discipline but, naturally, did not make those who came towards the end of the draw very happy.